DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim limitations “a first detection unit”, “a focus adjustment unit”, “a calculation unit” have been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because it uses non-structural terms coupled with functional languages without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function. Furthermore, the non-structural term is not preceded by a structural modifier.
Since this claim limitation invokes 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, claims 1, 14-15 and18 are interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification that achieves the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
A review of the specification shows that the following appears to be the corresponding structure described in the specification for the 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph limitation: see figure 1.
If applicant wishes to provide further explanation or dispute the examiner’s interpretation of the corresponding structure, applicant must identify the corresponding structure with reference to the specification by page and line number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters in response to this Office action.
If applicant does not wish to have the claim limitation treated under 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may amend the claim so that it will clearly not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, or present a sufficient showing that the claim recites sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function to preclude application of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
For more information, see Supplementary Examination Guidelines for Determining Compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 112 and for Treatment of Related Issues in Patent Applications, 76 FR 7162, 7167 (Feb. 9, 2011).
Claim Objections
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 18 recites the limitation "the storage medium". Applicant may amend the claim to e.g. “A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, . Appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 are allowed.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Yokozeki (US 2016/0277668) teach a method for automatic focus adjustment (e.g. see abstract), Figure 6 also disclose determining focus detection area (step S607) based on calculated correction (step S602); figure 8A-8D disclose a method of calculating a correction. Paragraphs 131-135 teach Auto focus (AF) depends on the object distance.
Murayama et al (US 2016/0191784) teach, see figures 7-8 and paragraph 83: in FIG. 8. Similarly to FIG. 7, a horizontal axis indicates the setting value of the driving amount and a vertical axis indicates the distance from the imaging device to an object in FIG. 8.
Tomosada (US 2015/0323760) teach, see abstract, A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging unit, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focusing state based on a signal output from the imaging unit, a determination unit configured to determine whether an in-focus position is present within a predetermined range from a current position of a focus lens based on the detected focusing state, a control unit configured to perform control to correct the position of the focus lens moved by a manual operation according to a result of the determination made by the determination unit, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire from a storage unit a movement speed of the focus lens corresponding to the manual operation, wherein the control unit performs control to move the focus lens at a speed determined based on the movement speed acquired from the storage unit.
There’s no teaching or suggestion in the prior arts for the claimed focus adjustment method.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAQUAN ZHAO whose telephone number is (571)270-1119. The examiner can normally be reached M-Thur: 7:00 am-5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thai Tran can be reached on 571-272-7382. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Email: daquan.zhao1@uspto.gov.
Phone: (571)270-1119
/DAQUAN ZHAO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2484